Dear Techies: It’s Time for Your Tour of Duty
It is an understatement to say that 2016 was a tumultuous year.
From the killing of unarmed black men, to new highs in global temperatures, to the growing levels of economic inequality and civil unrest in our nation, to violent conflicts happening around the world and the people those conflicts displace — this year has forced uncomfortable realities upon us at every turn.
As engineers, designers, product managers, and entrepreneurs, we are often less vulnerable to the problems within our society. Of course we face challenges too, from systematic discrimination against women and minorities to the fears of expiring or un-sponsored visas and more. But largely, we have the good fortune to worry less about what the government is doing and focus on business.
Perhaps the primary question most of us grapple with is this:
How can we more effectively develop products and services that meet customer needs and generate profits for our companies?
Not all of us to be sure, but certainly a majority of us.
But for many, 2016 has been a wake up call. It’s helped them see that they cannot simply ignore discussions of politics and turn away from calls for civic participation.
In growing numbers over this year, and accelerating over the last few weeks, I hear many people now asking the question:
How can I do more to contribute to our society?
I know this question well. After my startup Ridejoy stalled out in 2013, I felt lost and in need of a new mission. Something that I knew would have a tangible positive impact.
I found that new mission in the Presidential Innovation Fellowship. I was teamed up with Sarah Allen and Diego Mayer-Cantu to help the Smithsonian Institution better digitize and make accessible its 137 million treasures, specimens, and historical objects to the world.
During the Fellowship, we worked with incredibly talented people, grappled with hard problems, and developed a deeper understanding how government, which is literally how we’ve all decided to structure and operate our nation, works. It was an unforgettable experience and one I deeply cherish.
Started in 2012 by the then-United States CTO Todd Park, the goal of the Presidential Innovation Fellowship was to bring the best and the brightest technology professionals to apply their skills inside the federal government in order to serve the nation’s people and their interests.
Since then, over 110 fellows have served as PIFs, contributing their design, development, and leadership skills to address challenges ranging from digitization and accessibility of the Smithsonian’s 137 million objects, to strengthening the nation’s ability to respond to natural disasters, to helping agencies make smarter purchasing decisions on software and digital services, to developing a dedicated office within the VA that focuses exclusively on the veteran’s experience, to joining forces with over 130 police departments to release datasets on police activity.
President Obama has since signed the Presidential Innovation Fellows program into law, because it has advanced innovation, effectiveness, and transparency throughout the government and has broad, bipartisan support with both Democrats and Republicans.
As he said in that announcement:
“What began as an experiment is becoming a success … from now on Presidential Innovation Fellows will be an integral part of our government. My hope is this continues to encourage a culture of public service among our innovators and tech entrepreneurs, so we can keep building a government that is as modern and innovative and as engaging as our incredible tech sector is.”
Now the program faces a major test: the cross-over into a new administration. I completely understand that some may be hesitant to join a group that has the word Presidential in it when they personally have major disagreements with the incoming President.
No one said that making an impact would be easy. When the now-prestigious White House Fellows program was first created, it faced similar challenges when the administration turned over and the political party in power flipped. The future of that program was uncertain.
Indeed, within the alumni of the Fellows program, there is a vigorous and healthy discussion about how the program will evolve in the coming years. But one thing is clear — our country cannot thrive without exceptionally capable and contribution-oriented individuals serving at all levels of government.
The White House Fellows program survived and have grown to be a cherished way to foster leaders in our nation. So too will the Presidential Innovation Fellowship.
If you have been looking for a sign that it’s time to make a change and really do something that serves your nation — this is it. If you feel that it may be time for you to serve, as former US CTO Todd Park calls “your tour of duty”, then you should stop what you’re doing and take 15 minutes to apply for the Fellowship.
Applying is not a binding commitment — it is a step forward and an opportunity to learn more about the program and meet the people who you’d be collaborating with. You may decide ultimately that you’d like to serve in a different way, or you may decide to take the leap and do something that will shape the nation’s future, and your own.
I will leave you with words from the Presidential Innovation Fellows Foundation, the alumni organization started to further the mission of the PIF program:
“The experience that each fellow has is different, but in the end, their work is the same: do the hard thing, do the right thing, and serve the interests of the people of the United States and the world.”
